Ferromagnetism in transparent thin films of MgO

We show both theoretical and experimental evidences of the appearance of ferromagnetism in MgO thin films. First-principles calculations allow predicting the possibility of the formation of a local moment in MgO, provided the existence of Mg vacancies which create holes on acceptor levels near the O...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. B, Condensed matter and materials physics Condensed matter and materials physics, 2010-07, Vol.82 (2), Article 024405
Main Authors: Martínez-Boubeta, C., Beltrán, J. I., Balcells, Ll, Konstantinović, Z., Valencia, S., Schmitz, D., Arbiol, J., Estrade, S., Cornil, J., Martínez, B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Espintrònica
Ferromagnetism
Ferromagnetisme
Magnesium oxide
Pel·lícules fines
Spintronics
Thin films
Òxid de magnesi
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Summary:We show both theoretical and experimental evidences of the appearance of ferromagnetism in MgO thin films. First-principles calculations allow predicting the possibility of the formation of a local moment in MgO, provided the existence of Mg vacancies which create holes on acceptor levels near the O 2p-dominated valence band. Magnetic measurements evidence of the existence of room-temperature ferromagnetism in MgO thin films. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy demonstrates the existence of cation vacancies in our samples. Finally, by applying the element specificity of the x-ray magnetic circular dichroism technique, we also demonstrate that the magnetic moments of the system arise from the spin polarization of the 2p electrons of oxygen atoms surrounding Mg vacancies.
ISSN:1098-0121
1550-235X
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevB.82.024405